That which is not measurable is not science. That which is not physics is stamp collecting.

We are rather like children, who must take a watch to pieces to see how it works.

I've just finished reading some of my early papers, and you know, when I'd finished I said to myself, 'Rutherford, my boy, you used to be a damned clever fellow.' (1911)

If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.

The greatest contributor to the feeling of tension and fear of war arose from the power of the bombing aeroplane. If all nations would consent to abolish air bombardment . . . that would mean the greatest possible release from fear.

You know, I am sorry for the poor fellows that haven't got labs to work in.

[From uranium] there are present at least two distinct types of radiation one that is very readily absorbed, which will be termed for convenience the α radiation, and the other of a more penetrative character, which will be termed the β radiation.